Apple released iWork ’08 about six weeks before they released their operating system update, Leopard. Big news then, now somewhat forgotten, is that iWork ’08 includes a spreadsheet.
Enterprises scoffed at the earlier iWork versions because there wasn’t a spreadsheet available, and many big company employees love their little multiplying and dividing cells. Take away their spreadsheets, and their work day ends.
Looking back just a little, I found this long review of iWork ’08 in, of all places, ComputerWorld. Are there any magazines more enterprise focused than ComputerWorld? Not many. So ComputerWorld hated iWork ’08, right? After all, “everyone” knows Apple products don’t belong in the enterprise, right?
Seems iWork ’08 impressed ComputerWorld considerably. What else can you say when a reviewer describes a spreadsheet as cool? Wouldn’t you like your spreadsheet work to be cool?
Matching iWork against Microsoft Office in the past would be ridiculous in the pages of ComputerWorld, yet here we have that exact matchup. Users and companies deep into Office programming details are warned sticking with Office may be the better choice for them. But here’s a great kicker: you can try iWork ’08 for free for 30 days and see if you like it on your Macintosh better than Office on your PC. If you do, the price of iWork ’08 is $79. Maybe iWork ’08 doesn’t win the game in your company, but it certainly wins the price point.
